Thursday's Car Free (and Carefree) Around San Francisco

Comedian George Carlin once observed, "Did you ever notice people who drive faster than you are maniacs, but people who drive slower than you are idiots?"

San Francisco was the home to the first modern environmental organizations. In 1912 it was also the home to the first municipal public transportation system in the United States. The BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) opened for service in 1972, and was the first regional subway system built in the United States in 60 years.

It stands to reason that there are many excursions around the San Francisco Bay Area you can enjoy without the trappings of a car. Traffic, pollution, your carbon footprint are concerns you won't have when you let someone else do the driving - namely the state. And if you want to leave the car at home, there is no shortage of options. An extensive ferry network goes all over the bay. The BART system has 50 stations, with many having activities just steps away. The multiple commuter rail networks also traverse the bay area extensively.

For a fun and quick excursion on BART, explore the little enclave of Orinda. Within steps of the Orinda BART station is a little, easily walkable village. Grab a bite at the Europa Hofbrau Deli & Pub. For the last forty years they have served an eclectic, pan-European menu. Check out a movie in the post-Deco Orinda Cinema, now in its 85th year. Or you can peruse the shelves at Orinda Books, all within walking distance of the Orinda BART Station.

The Cal Train is a commuter rail line which runs between San Jose and San Francisco. If you wanted to you could check out a San Francisco Giant's game at Oracle Park, then hop on Cal Train and check out a San Jose Sharks game at the "Shark Tank," all walking distance from their respective stations. For a nice day trip get off at the Palo Alto Station. Walk to the east along University Ave. and discover the dozens of eclectic shops and restaurants. Walk to the west, behind the station, and you will find yourself at Stanford University.

The Hoover Tower at Stanford University

Stanford University is not the first place one thinks of when discussing bay area attractions. Surprisingly it has a number of interesting venues where you can view art, Polynesian culture, or just get a nice view. Stanford Live, their live arts program features performances from around the world, and even boasts its own philharmonic orchestra, the Stanford Philharmonia.

Completed in 1941, the Hoover Tower stands 285 feet above the campus, and as there are no other tall buildings or mountains nearby, the vista stretches for miles. What looks like a grove suddenly becomes a menagerie of faces and animals. For the most unique display of indigenous art, the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden features traditional Polynesian sculpture, carved into the trees in the middle of the Stanford University campus. And you don't need to drive

The ferry system traversing the San Francisco Bay is quite extensive. At one point, before the trans-bay bridges were completed in the 1930s, San Francisco's Ferry Building saw more commuter foot traffic than Grand Central Station in New York City. It is also a great embarkation point to discover the bay by ferry. The shortest and most popular destination from San Francisco is the 30-minute journey to Sausalito, the former fishing village which is now home to upscale galleries and restaurants. For a different kind of adventure, hop on the ferry to Richmond, California.

That's right, I said Richmond.

The Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park

Just yards away from the Richmond Ferry Landing is the Craneway Pavilion event space, where you will find such varied activities as Cinco De Mayo celebrations to Pickle Ball. A few yards next door is the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, run by the National Parks Service. This little gem is dedicated to the women who worked in the war industry during WW II, and you will find all of this next to the Richmond Ferry landing.

Amtrak operates a commuter rail service between San Jose and Sacramento called the Capitol Corridor and basically runs every other hour. The Sacramento train station is in the heart of downtown, and just a stone's throw away from the state capitol and other walking distance-attractions like the California Museum. And it's only a two-hour train ride from San Francisco.

If you don't want to go that far, get off the train in Martinez, the county seat of Contra Costa County. Take a breather at the waterfront Radke Martinez Regional Shoreline Park. Or check out the Martinez History Museum, located in a house built in the 1890s.

SamTrans (San Mateo County's transit system) is designed mostly to move people around this suburban county. However much of it is open green space and dramatic coastline. The little hamlets of Pacifica, Pillar Point, and Half Moon Bay lay just south of San Francisco along historic Highway One They are mostly bedroom communities you may have never heard of, however, you will find little treasures amongst the suburban banality.

Take the SamTrans Bus 110 from the Daly City BART Station to the Pacific Manor Center, and explore the shops and cafes along Palmetto Avenue, their main drag, Then stroll over to the coast and get floored by the view from the bluffs overlooking the 100-foot sheer cliffs plunging into the ocean.

Pacifica is designed like a charm bracelet, with little neighborhoods connecting to Highway One at varying intervals. Hop back on the 110 bus for Rockaway, the beachside community with little motels on the water. Stop at the apex of the neighborhood, A Grape in the Fog. This little wine bar is more than just that, it hosts events on different nights like wine tastings and Karaoke. The eclectic menu offers a variety of nibbles and wines from places which range the gamut from Paso Robles to Sardinia. Hop back on the 110 bus and get off at Linda Mar, a beachside bedroom community with the most stunning view of the ocean from a Taco Bell, probably anywhere on the planet. From Linda Mar, hop in the 117 bus along Highway One south to Montara for the most stunning views of the coast and ocean you will find on public transportation.

Pillar Point may be unfamiliar to you unless you are a surfer. Then you know it as well as baseball fans know Cooperstown, New York. Pillar Point is home to the Maverick's Surfing Competition, which draws surfers from around the world. This little cove may seem unassuming, but it is one of the half dozen Meccas surfers seek for the best (and largest) waves in the world. For more context, check out the 2012 film Chasing Mavericks, starring Gerard Butler. The entire film was shot in this area. The terminal for the 117 bus is Half Moon Bay, famous for its Pumpkin Festival every autumn, but the town is quaint and walkable the whole year round.